T he direct non-stop flight between New York and Lagos, Nigeria scheduled by Continental airlines to take off in July has been suspended over what Nigeria' aviation minister called "retaliation for denying similar opportunity to Virgin Nigeria."

The indefinite suspension, according to Continental airlines spokesperson, Sarah Anthony, became necessary because "we have been unable to secure all necessary authorizations to operate in Nigeria."

A special assistant to Nigeria's aviation minister, Sam Adurogboye, said the withdrawal of operation license was in retaliation to US government's refusal to grant Virgin Nigeria a similar opportunity.

Adurogboye wondered why Virgin Nigeria with 49 percent British ownership and 51 percent Nigerian interest would be turned down by America to operate in the country where most of their airlines are either filing for bankruptcy or Chapter 11.

He said senior Nigerian and US government officials are working out how to resolve the impasse. Continental airlines had announced in December 2004 that it would begin non-stop direct flight service between Lagos, Nigeria and New York/Newark this summer "serve the business community traveling to Nigeria - especially those working in the oil industry and the large Nigerian communities in the United States."

The operation will be once a day and seven flights a week to Nigeria. The sixth largest carrier was to fly between Lagos and Newark Liberty International Airport outside New York beginning in the second quarter of 2005.

Many African travelers interviewed were disappointed at the cancellation as it would linger the horror African travelers go through in Europe where they sometimes endure more than 48 hours wait to connect another flight.

The airline may not return to Nigeria just like American Trans Air (ATA) did in 1994 after US-severed flight relations with Nigeria following the annulment of Nigeria's presidential election won by late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola in 1993.

ATA is yet to return despite the return to democratic government in 1999 and clearance by the then Clinton administration that the Nigerian airspace is save to fly.

In 2002, the now defunct Nigeria Airways resumed direct commercial flight between Lagos and New York on a leased aircraft from South African Airways only to stop operations after a short while.

Ritetime /World Airways again operated direct flight from New York, Houston and Dallas for a while before again stopping the operation in December 2003.

But Continental airlines officials are looking beyond the hitches that caused these carriers to stop operations.

"We believe we will be successful because - as the largest carrier in Houston, which is the energy and oil capital of the U.S., we will be able to tap into the energy and oil business going to and from the African continent," spokesperson Johnson said.

"We will also be able to offer Africans in the United States another option for good service. But if the passenger numbers don't materialize, then we'll have to move the airplanes some place else where we can make money," he added.